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1976-03-02 Recessed 1945 Recessed Meeting Tueaday, March 2, 1976 6:50 P.M. The City Council of the City of 0keechobee, Florida, convened in recessed ses- sion in the Council room at City Hall, 0keechobee, Florida~ on Tuesday, March 2, 1976 at 6:30 P.M., President Russell V. Domer presiding. Ma¥oriAmd~ey Dunham, Councilmen E. H. Hunt, Edward W. Douglas, Lavon Bass and Clif Betts, Jr. were present. Others present were Saa~dra M~i,Bennett, City Clerk; L.C. Fortner, Jr., Director of Public Works; Edward Chisholm, Chief of Police and 01eh Godwin, Fire Chi e f. REQUEST FOR DITCH CLEARED~ STREET PAVED AND LOT CLEANED Mr. Larry Wentz, 1102 N.W. 7th Street, appeared to request the ditch on 7th Street be cleaned as it doesn't drain properly. He also Street shelled and reported that the lot next to his was overgrown with weeds and questioned if the City had an Ordinance regulating vacant lots maintained. Director Fortner was asked to report. He stated that the City ditch on 7th Street, inter-connects with the County which is dug beneath the culvert thus causing a drainage problem. Following discussion, President Domer informed Mr. Wentz that ~he City didn't have an Ordinance regulating vacant lots overgrown with weeds and advised him to contact the owner. He assured Mr. Wentz that Director Fortner would ~urvey.~he si~ation concerning the ditch and street and report back to the Council. CABLEVISION President Domer gave a report on his meeting with Sam Marion, President of Ultra~c~ra. He explained that Ultra-Com, Inc. has requested a revision of the franchise by stipulating a ten year franchise from the City and County ending in July ], 1986. President Domer informed the Council that the original fran- chise has six years to go and that the County Commissioners had adopted this extension contingent upon the City Council's approval. He stated that a stipulation would be included in the ordinance which gives Ultra-Com one year to commence construction and It was moved by Councilman Bass, seconded by Councilman Douglas and vote carried to accept the extension of time with stipulations~ and authorized the City'and~,County Attorneys to draft the revised franchise. CIRCUS PERMIT REQUEST A request from The 0keechobee Citizens Recreation Association for a permit to sponsor the Hoxie Brothers Circus for one day East of the D & D Grocery} on Hamrick's property was reported. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilman Douglas, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to approve the request with the stipulation that the circus comply with Health and Sanitation standards and an occupational license purchased. C~rURCH Mr. James Sheppard appeared, in response to Building Official Spray's vice, to request a permit to renovate and use a two story building on S.E~ 2nd Street for the purpose of a Free Will Baptist Church. He presented a petition signed by twenty three people living within a three block area of the property approving and three disapproving. Mayor Duraham purposed that the Council conduct their own survey. Following discussion, the Council requested Mayor Dunham to conduct a survey and report at the next council meeting, and advised Mr. Shepphered to have the building inspected. BEARD'S WATER COMPANY Mr. William Beard appeared questioning whether the Council would be inter- ested in purchasing his Water Company for $20,000.00. He informed the Council that the Company had ninety one meters and that they could buy the Company at any terms they desired. Director Fortner and Councilman Hunt was requested to make a survey of the system and report back at the next council meeting. KELLY AND WARD SEWER LINE EXTENSTION REQUEST Mr. J. G. Kelly appeared requesting a sewer system extension to his trailer park a't S.E. 10th Ave~ and agreed to pay all cost of installation. Director Fortner was asked to report. He stated that Engineers, Robert E. Owen & Associates, Inc. would have to make a study and draw up specifications. President Domer informed Mr. Kelley that ~(~would have to bear all cost of the construction and installation and Engineer fees. After installation the line would ~he~'~ba the City's ~o maintain. Mr. Kelly stated that he agreed to the purposal. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to authorize the installation of the sewer line extension contingent upon Mr. Kelley placing funds into escrow account to pay'all cost and authorized Engineers to proceed with the work order. FIRE PHONESRE~UEST AT HOSPITAL EMERGENCY CENTER President Domer reported a request from the Emergency Medical Tecbm~!ciam" fo~ am ~m~'~en~y. Fi~a phon~' ~i%h a direct line to the Fire Department, which would cost ~8~0~ for installation and $~.00 local service permmonth. Fire Chief Godwin was recognized. He stated that he recommended this direct line because it would save time in alerting the hospital of a fire where an ambulance would be needed. It was moved by Councilman Bass, seconded by Councilman Betts and vote carried to authorize the installation of the fire phone at the hospital, with the hospital paying half the cost. Telephone A request for the City to pay the local telephone service for the Water Supervisor was reported. I947 It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to authorize the payment of the local service of the Water Supervisor. EI~I~R$~NCY GENERATOR - POLICE DEPARTMENT President Domer reported that Clyde Kauffman, Civil Defense Director, had informed him that he had a 20 KW emergency generator in surp!us that he would like to donate to the City through the Civil Defense for the Police Department. He stated that all the City has to do is accept the ownership of the generator and have it connected to the city hall building. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Council- man Bass and vote carried to direct Chief Chisholm to nofity Mr. Kauffman that the City is going to have the generator checked out and authorized pa~ent for the service. EMERGENCY GENERATOR - FIRE DEPARTMENT Discussion was heard regarding the generator at the Fire Department. Presi- dent Domer stated that the generator Wasn't connected but that the Department runs it at times. He recommended that an electrician check the generator for cost to operate. Councilman Betts suggested the Council table action until the other genera- tor is investigated and have an electriciam check out both~generators at the same time. The Council agreed with Councilman Betts suggestion. WATER METERS~EQUESTS'.REPLACED President Domer informed the Council that since increased water rates are based on sizes of meters, a p~oblem has occured whereby certain people had paid to have a larger meter installed at their property due to low water pressure in the past. Some of these people now feel that a smaller meter is adequate because of the proper water pressure now and have requested their meter be re- placed with a smaller meter. He explained that the City could replace all these meters but in the process, the mmaller meters would have to be purchased and the ~i~ wouldn't have any use for all the larger meters. He questioned if the City should charge a fee to install smaller meters when the property owner had already paid for the larger meter. Following discussion, the Council table action for further study and agreed to adjust water bills after a decision has been made and agreed upon. MAIL DELIVERY AT CITY HALL Ma~l delivery at the Clerk's office instead of havin~ the mail sen~ to the Post Office was discussed. It was moved by Councilman Bass, seconded by Councilman Betts and vote carried to authorize mail delivery at the City Hall. FIRE DEPARTMENT BUSINESS FirecChief Godwin was recognized. He requested authorization on the following items: 1945 FIRE DEPARTMENT BOOKS Twenty four fire fighting and other miscellaneous books for the Fire Dept- ment for $105.00 --~ It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Douglas to authorize the purchase of the books and vote carried. ELECTRICITY AT NEW FIRE BUILDING Requested electricity connected at the new fire building. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to authroize the connection of electricity to the new fire building. HOSE DRYING TOWER Requested a hose drying tower installed near the new fire building. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to authorize Chief G~dwin to erect a drying tower. ORDINANCE NO. ~18 Mayor Dur~ham requested and recommended that the Council abolish Ordinance No. 318 which permits house trailers in any zoning district onaa temporary basis up to six months duration in hardship cases. He stated that the Council has power to set up their own system in the future for trailer accomadations if needed. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Hunt and vote carried to direct Attorney Conlon to draw up an Ordinance abolishing Ordinance No. 318. PENALTIES ON W~T~R BILLING President Domer informed the Council of a problem whereby local governments such as the County Commissioners, hospitals, School Boards pay their bills after their meetings are held. He stated that the ten percent penalty added to water bills create a hardship on these government bodies as they can't pay their water bills promptly. Following discussion, it was moved by Councilman Betts, seconced by Council- man Bass and vote carried to waive penalty charges on all government agencies for a period of thirty days, retroactive to January 1, 1976. BELIQUENT WATER BILLS CHARGED OFF The City Clerk presented a list of ald deliquent water bills the auditor had recommended the City Council authorize to charge off. These bills are for the years of 1960 through 1970 totaling $6,028.67. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried to authorize the charge off of o14 deliquent accounts amounting to $6,028.67 upon the recommendation of the City Auditor. RETIREMENT The Clerk reported that Mr. Marvin Clayton of theDivision of Retirement would like to have one of his staff come before the City Council and discuss the City's Municipal Fire and Police Retirement System with them. The Council agreed that they were not interested at this time. i949 COST OF LIVING RAISES The cost of living and/or merit raises were discussed. It was recommended by Councilman Douglas that the Department Heads be notified to write their evaluations on their employees before April 1, 1976 and meet with the Council in a workshop meeting to discuss their recommendations. The Council agreed with Councilman Douglas's recommendation and directed the Clerk to notify the Department Heads. STREET SIGNS Director Fortner reported a request for a stop sign at SW 12th Street and 2nd Ave. from Mr. Johnny Edwards. It was moved by Councilman Betts, seconded by Councilman Bass and vote carried that Director Fortner be authorized to erect a stop sign at said street. STREET LIGHTS Councilman Douglas reported that the Florida Power and Light Company had installed all the additional lights the City Council had requested be installed. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, President Domer declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: ...... , CITY CLERK